The Flemington Connection
In June 2008, Dr Noel Power, Alan Livingston (Waipa District Mayor), John Inglis (Waipa DC CEO) and Peter Lee (Waipa District Deputy
Mayor) visited Melbourne to meet with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC).
VRC were extremely supportive of the event and saw The First Tuesday Trust approach as a blueprint for other such ventures.
VRC agreed to contractual arrangements licensing our use of the Melbourne Cup and associated logos for this event. To support the event in 2009, VRC has waived any copyright fees and will offer support with promotional material, imagery etc.
The Cambridge Connection
The scene is set for the first official celebration of Cambridge’s amazing record of success in the famous Melbourne Cup to be marked with an action packed and fun filled day of racing action at Cambridge Raceway on Tuesday, November 3.
The First Tuesday NZ Trust is organising the race-day which is the first time any Melbourne Cup event in New Zealand has been officially sanctioned by the Victoria Racing Club.
The Cambridge area has been responsible for breeding no fewer than 14 Melbourne Cup winners. The First Tuesday NZ Trust was set up to recognise this success in the form of a new iconic community event.
Not only have Cambridge breeders been to the fore but also sires such as Sir Tristram and Zabeel have dominated the roll of honour for the race that stops two nations.
In fact in the past 45 years an incredible 55 per cent of the winners have carried Waikato bloodlines.
The late Seton Otway’s Trelawney Stud and Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud have both been at the forefront of the Cambridge success in the Melbourne Cup over many years.
Sir Patrick,, one of the most influential breeders of Melbourne Cup winners, with Cambridge Stud’s two great sires, Sir Tristram and Zabeel, having produced six winners between them has been an avid supporter of the Cambridge Melbourne Cup day since it was first mooted.
“I commend the organisors of this event,” said Sir Patrick Hogan, “and fully endorse this exciting concept. I believe it will encourage greater knowledge of the Melbourne Cup to people in New Zealand, not only within the racing fraternity but just as importantly to the business sector.”
Entry to the Cambridge Raceway will be free to the public and the gates will open at 11am. There will be a food hall and bar open from 11.30am. There will be large screens showing the action from Flemington racecourse as well as the New Zealand race-meetings on the day while totalisator facilities will be available as well as a large number of displays including an air show and helicopter rides.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup will be broadcast live on the big screen at approximately 5pm.
There are a choice of hospitality packages available with tickets starting out at $125 and ranging up to $200. These can be booked at this web site: http://www.firsttuesday.co.nz or through various outlets in Cambridge including the I-site or by contacting even manager Michael Head on 027 57 44940.
There will be a Fashions In The Field contest with the winner receiving a trip for two to next year’s Melbourne Cup as well as automatic entry into next year’s finals of the Melbourne Cup fashions in the field competition.
There will be a monster auction of very attractive prizes held during the day. Super model Elizabeth Charleston has been appointed the official ambassador for the Cambridge Melbourne Cup event.
The full list of Cambridge-bred Melbourne Cup winners is:
1947 Hiraji
1949 Foxami
1959 Macdougal
1966 Galilee
1971 Silver Knight
1976 Van Der Hum
1982 Gurner’s Lane
1987 Kensei
1988 Empire Rose
1997 Might And Power
1998 Jezabeel
2000 Brew
2001 Ethereal
2007 Efficient
Information Supplied by Positive PR
